Recap: Orioles 3, Rays 2

Orioles 3, Rays 2: Nate McLouth ripped an RBI single to plate rookie Manny Machado in the bottom of the ninth inning as host Baltimore defeated Tampa Bay for the second straight game.

Matt Wieters and Wilson Betemit had back-to-back RBI singles in the first inning for the Orioles, who won for the 15th time in 16 one-run games and improved to a league-best 26-7 overall in that department. Baltimore remained in a first-place tie atop the American League East with the New York Yankees, who shaded the Boston Red Sox 5-4.

After brilliantly throwing behind Rich Thompson to get the pinch-runner caught in an inning-ending rundown, Machado had a first-pitch single to start the bottom of the ninth. Machado was sacrificed over to second before McLouth ripped an offering from Kyle Farnsworth (1-5) off the right-field wall to easily score Machado.

Jim Johnson (2-1) was credited with the win after yielding two hits in one scoreless inning.

B.J. Upton led off the game by depositing a second-pitch fastball down the left-field line for his 22nd homer - and fourth in three contests. Ben Francisco added an RBI double in the third inning for the Rays, who have dropped four of their last six to fall three games behind Baltimore and New York in both the division and second wild card race.

After Upton led off the contest with a homer, Baltimore regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Wieters collected his seventh RBI in as many games with a run-scoring single to left field and Betemit followed by depositing a fastball from starter Alex Cobb into right-center field to plate J.J. Hardy.

Francisco leveled the contest at 2-2 in the third inning after plating Jeff Keppinger with an RBI double into the left-field corner.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Baltimore RHP Jason Hammel will have an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury to his right knee. Hammel exited Tuesday's game with a sore knee while making his second start since undergoing surgery in July. ... Orioles CF Adam Jones had a two-out single to left field in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Cobb struck out the side in the third inning and teammate Jake McGee did the same in the sixth. ... Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings missed his fourth straight game with tightness in his lower back.